MAJ. WM. BLOUNT TO BENJAMIN HAWKINS, ANDREW PICKENS, JOSEPH
MARTIN AND LACKLAN McINTOSH, COMMISSIONERS, APPOINTED TO TREAT WITH THE
CHEROKEES AND ALL INDIANS SOUTHWARD OF THEM WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE UNITED
STATES.

[From Executive Letter Book.]

Hopewell on Keeowee, Nov. 22d, 1785.

Gentlemen:

Having yesterday had the Honor to lay before you my Commission appointing me
Agent on the part of the State of North Carolina. I now consider it my duty to
lay before you the following Extract from the Constitution of that State which
was agreed to in full Convention at Halifax on the eighteenth day of December
Anno Domini, 1776. “The property of the soil in a free government
being one of the essential rights of the collective body of the people, it is
necessary, in order to avoid future disputes, that the limits of the State
should be ascertained with precision; and as the former temporary line between
North and South Carolina was confirmed and extended by Commissioners appointed
by the Legislatures of the two States agreeable to the Order of the late King
George the second in Council, that line, and that only, should be esteemed the
Southern Boundary of this State, as follows: That is to say, beginning on the
Seaside at a Cedar Stake at or near the Mouth of Little river, being the
Southern extremity of Brunswick County, and running from thence, a Northwest
course through the Boundary House, which stands in thirty-three degrees
fifty-six minutes to the thirty-fifth degree of North latitude; and from thence
a west course so far as is mentioned in the Charter of King Charles the Second,
to the late proprietors of Carolina. Therefore all the territory, Seas, Waters
and Harbours with their appurtenances lying between the line above described and
the Southern line of the State of Virginia, which begins in the Sea Shore in
thirty-six degrees, thirty minutes North latitude, and from thence runs West,
agreeable to the said Charter of King Charles, are the right and property of the
people of this State, to be held in sovereignty,” and to remind you
that the year after the formation and publication of the

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aforesaid Constitution the State of North Carolina entered into
and signed the Articles of Confederation by which she has not given up to the
United States any part of the soil described in the aforesaid Constitution nor
the sovereignty thereof.